Table leg support



March 14, 1933. w M, BOENNING TABLE LEG SUPPORT Filed July 11, 1930 Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE-"1,1,:

WILLIAM MICKEL BOENNING, oF'MANrTowoo, .WISCONSIN, Assieivon 'ro rEReusoN, BROTHERS manurac'ruanve COMPANY, or EQBQKEN, NEW JERSEY, A conrom TION or NEW JERSEY TABLE LEG surroivr ,hpplication'filed July 11, 1930. Serial No. 467,241. r

This inventioni'elates to improvements in table leg supports.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of an improved table leg support whereby the leg can be securely maintained in an upright position for supporting the table or retained against movement in a folded position beneath the table, and this type of invention is particularly applicable'to card tables and small tables of this character where it is usually desired to fold these tables and put them out of the way when not in use.

Another object of the present inventionis the provision of a retaining and supporting means for table legs so constructed that when the table leg is moved to a folded position, the supporting element will be moved to the folded position, and'both the table leg and the supporting element being retained againstmovementby novel means.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a table leg support and fastener which can be easily incorporated in construction of tables in use at the present time, or can be manufactured in combination with card tables or tables of this character.

With the above and other objectsin view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claims and shown in the accompanying drawing where- Figure l-is a side elevation taken on the line 11 of Figure 2, showing the leg in upright position; q

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2'2 of Figure 1, showing the leg and supporting members in operative position; x

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the table'showing the leg and en porting members'in folded position; and,

Figure 4: is a detailed sectional view on the line 4+4 of Figure 3.

In illustrating my invention, it will be noted that for the purpose of describing and illustrating the device, only one corner of the tablehas been shown,it being understood that the device is applicable to all Iwardl'y from the table top .3 and their meet- 10 adjacent and thence extended upwardly on an incline, as shown at 12, with its upper end laterally four corners of the table in a manner similar to be described.

Referring to the drawing, 1 and 2 indicate depending flanges which extend downing ends form a corner portion forthe table, In some instances, the side rails or'fianges 1 and 2 may have oneof their edges flush with the top of the table, or positioned beneath the top as the case may require.= However, each flange has attached thereto an angular plate 4 with theedge thereof lying next to the table top 3, bentupwardly and curved to provide a bearing sleeve 5. Rotatably'mounted in one of the sleeves 5 is a horizontally, disposed shaft or rod 6 v havinga collar '7 adjacent the sleeve to limit the sliding movement of the shaft through said sleeve. Y One end of he rod 6 is rotatably mount ed within an aperture in the-flange 2 as shown at 8, and this rod 6 is provided with a loop 9 adjacent the end 8 whichis adapted to be connected to one sideof the table leg its upper end, as shown in Figurel.v Y

The shaft orrod 6 after being extended through sleeve 5 and mounted for rotation therein is provided with a U-shaped loop-11,

offset to form a substantially horizontal shoulder 13, the other extremity of the rod 6 opposite end 8, being provided'witha loop '9 adapted to receive screw membei '14 which, togetherwith the screw member 14', securely connects the shaft or rod 6 tothe table leg 10. r

' It will be noted from the foregoing,that the table leg'lO ismounted so that the same can be quickly swungto an upright position, or moved downwardly to a position parallel with the table top 3. V V A" substantially triangular shaped supporting member. is provided and this mem: her is formed from a single piece of rod with a loop 15 formed at one corner of the triangle and having one end of the rod rotatably mounted therein and extending into one ofthe side flanges, as shown at 16. The" horizontal portion 17 of'the triangular member indicated at 19 has a loop at its lower end 8, the upper end forms a continuation of the inclined part, and the two side members are brought closely together to form a U- shaped loop 20 which is adapted to embrace the inclined member 12 and the horizontal portion 13.

In Figures 1 and 2, the invention has been illustrated with the table legs set upright for use'andit will be noted that when in this position, theU-shaped portion 20 embraces the horizontal part 13, thus preventing lateral movement of the leg 10. However, when it is desired to swing the leg 10 toward a folded'position, the loop portion 20 is removed from the horizontal part 13 and by swinging the leg toward a closed position,

the inclined part 12 will ride against the inclined part 18 of the triangular member, thus normally urging the triangular member to a raised position. However, the leg is maintainedin a folded position as shown at Figure 3, through the mediumv of a pin 23 which is carried by the leg and adapted to be sprung behind a portion of one of the sleeves '5, as shown in Figure 4, so that under ordinary circumstances, the legs will be maintained in a closed position. v

It will be noted that in releasing the leg so that the same can be swungto an upright position, it is only necessary to raise the leg far enough to disengage the pin23 from behind the sleeve 5, the tension of spring .21 returning the leg to its normal raised position, as shown in Figure 1. 7

It will be noted that when the leg is moved upwardly, it canv be quickly locked in an upright position by engaging the U- shaped part 20 with the horizontal portion 13, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, thus retaining the leg against movement relative to the table top and the flanges depending therefrom. I

It will be noted that by arranging the triangular member in the manner disclosed and having the same cooperating with the in clined part .12, the leg and, all movable memberscan be quickly moved to .a folded position, placing spring 2 1 under tension so that as .soon as pinv 23 is disengaged from beneath the sleeve'5, the legs will be quickly moved to an upright position. 7

It will be apparent from the foregoing that this type of construction can be-easily incorporated in the manufacture of small tables, suchas card tables, and the like, for

the convenience of folding upthe table l'egs' when the table-is not in use and the legs can .be quickly and easily moved to a support ing position by simply disengaging the pin 23 from sleeve 5,,whereby the tension of spring '21 will urge the legs to a supporting position.

7 While this device has been particularly means for described and illustrated as adapted for use in attaching and supporting table legs with made in the construction when putting the invention into practice without departing from thespirit of thesame or the scope of the appended claims. v

I claim: 1

1 A table leg support including hing'edly mounted supporting members carried by the table, means for connecting one of said members to the table leg, each of said supporting members having inclined brace porti'ons with an offset shoulder at the upper end of one inclined part and a U-shaped part in the other brace member adapted to cooperate with the 'oflset shoulder for, retaining said supporting members in an upright position. 7

2. A table leg support including hingedlyi mounted supporting members carried by the table, means for connect ng one of said members to a table leg, means'for locking said members together in supporting position and adapted to be manually released,v

cooperating parts between said supporting members whereby folding movement of the leg will cause one of said membersto urge the other member to a folded position, and

a spring for urging said members toward;

supporting position. I c

3. A table leg support including hingedly mountedsupporting members carried by the table, means for connecting one of said .members to-a table leg, means for locking said memberstogether in supporting position and. adapted to be manually released, cooperating parts between saidsupporting members whereby foldingmovement ofthe leg will cause one of said members to'urgel the other member to a "folded position, a spring for urging said members toward supporting position, and means for lockingthe leg and supporting members. in folded position against the tension of said spring 4. A table leg support including hingedly mounted supporting members carried by the table, means for connecting one of said members to the table .leg, said members having cooperating inclined portions wherebymovement of the leg to a folded position will cause the supporting member carried thereby to urge the other supporting memher to folded position, a coil spring carried by one of said members for normally urging the supporting members toward supporting position, and means for retaining the leg and supporting members in folded position against the tension of the spring. a- 5. A device of the class described inolud-' ing a top member, supporting members hingedly mounted thereon, means for connecting one of said hinged members to a supporting leg for said top member, means for locking said supporting members together in supporting position and adapted to be manually released, cooperating parts between said supporting members whereby folding movement of the leg will cause one of said members to urge the other members to a folded position, and a spring for urging said supporting members toward supporting position.

6. In a folding table, a table top, a cornor leg, a folding brace connected with the leg and top, and a second brace hingedly mounted on the top at right angles to the first brace for interlocking engagement therewith when the braces are swung to their raised position, for locking the legin its extended operative position, said braces having cooperating parts operable to cause the movement of one brace to actuate theother. I,

7. In a folding table, a table top, a corner leg, a brace, a pair of right angularly disposed hinge members secured to the top at right angles to one another, a portion of said brace being rotatably mounted in one hinge member and connected with the inner end of the leg, means securing another portion of said brace to the leg, a second brace hingedly mounted in the other hinge member for interlocking engagement with the first mentioned brace when the leg is in its 0 extended operative position and a lock pin carried by the leg for releasable engagement with the last mentioned hinge member when the leg is in its folded position. i

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Manitowoc, in the county of Manitowoc and State of Wisconsin.

WILLIAM MIOKEL BOENNING. 

